In the family room Beckett was looking at the puzzle that the girls had picked for them to start out and she said, "You know we might not be able to get too much done with this."

"That's okay, if we can start it then that's all we want to do," Julia said as she and her sister waited for their mother to roll out the felt they'd be able to do the puzzle on.

"Let me see the picture," Beckett said, holding up the cover of the box to see the Yellow Submarine picture. "Alright let's try and find the corners."

While the three were doing that Martha walked into the room and she said, "Alexis wishes you a wonderful Mother's Day Kate."

"She can't talk?" Beckett asked as the girls looked up to see their grandmother was holding her phone against her shoulder.

"Lemme see 'lexis!" Eliza cried, rushing over to Martha.

"Hold on," Martha said, smiling at her before she then went over to Beckett.

"Hello Alexis," she said then to her stepdaughter with a smile. "You're going out to dinner?"

"Very soon, Clara, Brennan and Erin will be here so I think this way will be better," Alexis told her with a smile. "How has your day been?"

"Really nice, we've spent all day with the girls," Beckett said. "They miss you of course."

"And Mommy too," Eliza said, standing to her mother's left as Julia was to Beckett's right.

"I had a feeling," Alexis replied, smiling again. "Tell me what you did today."

Very quickly the girls took turns telling their sister exactly that and once they'd finished they looked at their mother at the same time.

"I did the same thing you did," Beckett said in amusement.

"Now you say what you got to do," Julia said. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated for a moment before she said, "Did you speak to your mother?"

"I did," Alexis replied. "And she's engaged."

"What?" Castle asked in surprise as he'd come into the room just in time to hear that. He took the phone from Beckett and held her hand as she grabbed onto it before saying to his daughter, "She's engaged."

"Yesterday her boyfriend proposed to her," Alexis replied. "They're moving to Rome since he's Italian."

"He makes movies there?" Martha asked, glancing at her son.

"He does but Mom does seem to… like him," Alexis replied. "They want me to see them one weekend but while they're in London. I put my foot down about leaving the country with school still going."

"Thank you for doing that," Castle said. "So how're you doing besides that?"

Smiling for a moment Alexis then told her father, "I'm good; Louis and I are going to dinner with his parents and sister in a little bit so I decided to talk to you now. Hello Jim."

"Hello Alexis, good?" Jim asked very simply since he guessed that she was in a slight hurry.

"I am, I hope you are too," Alexis replied. "So with that I should say bye."

Smiling as her stepdaughter's boyfriend showed up behind her on the screen Beckett said, "Hello Louis, give my love to your parents and sister."

"I will, hullo everyone," the young man replied, waving then to his girlfriend's family that was crowded on the screen.

"Love you all," Alexis said. "And we'll talk really soon," she added. "I'll try to get to you tomorrow, need to see how class goes."

After they'd all said goodbye to her Beckett handed the phone back to Martha before she said to her husband and father, "You're all finished?"

"No I could hear Alexis and I wanted to see her," Castle replied. "We're almost done."

Standing up as her husband then walked back to the kitchen Beckett stopped her father from following him before she did herself. "Hey," she said to get his attention.

"I was planning on trying to surprise you," Castle said, looking up at his wife with a slight smile as he knew already why she was there.

"Tell me Rick," Beckett said.

"I'm not sad or… jealous," Castle replied, waving his spatula in the air. "I never loved Meredith that much. I'm feeling really… I suppose in a way liberated."

"Because-" Beckett began to ask.

"No not because the alimony… though I suppose that's a way to look at it," Castle said thoughtfully. "My last tie with her I suppose." He then saw that she was looking at him questioningly and smiled before saying, "Yes I know there's Alexis but that's not something that ties us too much. At least not anymore."

Beckett nodded and then reached over to him, squeezing his hand tightly before she said, "Do you think you'll keep in touch with her?"

"I doubt it," Castle replied simply before he went back to the food. "If you're also asking about if she invites me to the wedding; no. I'll send them a gift and wish them all the best but… she's always been jealous of you."

"I had a feeling when I first met her," Beckett said simply. "The way she spoke about being an inspiration to you."

"She wasn't the same for me as you are," Castle said hurriedly.

"I knew," Beckett said simply. "Since we are how we are."

"Yeah she was… I mean some of her would come up in some characters but I never set one single character after her," Castle said after thinking for a moment. He then said, "With you I've done it twice."

"I know," Beckett said simply before she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "So you're okay?"

"I am," Castle told her reassuringly. He turned off the stove that was under the wok before he then turned to her and gathered her into his arms. "It's a relief," he confessed to her as he looked into her eyes. "It just feels like once she's married that part of my life will be over and I'll have the best part of our relationship; Alexis."

"I had a feeling you'd be thinking that," Beckett told him. She then shared a kiss with him but they were brief before parting and she then said, "Do you want my father to help you?"

"I'll leave that up to you," Castle said simply.

Beckett couldn't help smiling since he'd known already what she would do and she went over to the family room before she paused. Smiling again at the sight of her daughters with their grandparents working on the puzzle she said carefully to not startle them, "I'll be helping your daddy in the kitchen."

Julia looked over at her mother and said, "You're not supposed to cook today."

"There isn't much left," Beckett replied. "We'll call you when it's time to set the table." She waved to Eliza; who had done so to her first; and then left them to the puzzle before going to the kitchen.

"They're okay with you joining me?" Castle asked when his wife reached him.

"I think so though there was some protest to my cooking with you," Beckett replied. "But the idea of me with you must have cut through that."

Laughing slightly as he was dishing the chow mein he'd made Castle said, "There isn't much left."

"Which is exactly what I said to the girls," Beckett replied with a slight smile on her face. "What can I help you with?"

"Well…" Castle began to say. "I have some potstickers I was saving for last…"

"You mean you need to heat up the dim sum," Beckett replied. When her husband just smiled she laughed and cupped his cheek before she kissed him.

Castle was pleased and hurriedly responded to her as eagerly as he could, trying to recall if he was still cooking something. But as they parted he didn't smell anything burning so he said, "I kind of wish it was Saturday."

"Pervert," Beckett said before he was letting her go. She went over to their wine cellar and took out a bottle before she uncorked it and poured out three glasses. She grabbed pineapple juice for her father and the girls before she said, "Julia, Eliza."

Since he'd put the dim sum for their meal in the oven to reheat Castle turned in time to see their daughters walking down the hall quickly hand in hand to them. "Just so you know," he then told them seriously. "Your mom didn't have to do a thing."

"Not exactly," Beckett said with a smile for him. "I got the drinks."

"Now we get the table," Eliza said seriously.

"Come on," Castle said, getting the plates for them and putting them on the table. He watched with his wife as the girls worked together to get the plates in front of each chair and then got the utensils themselves.

"Wait," Beckett said, handing Julia the napkins. She went over to the table with her oldest and stood with Eliza as they watched Julia lay out each one. "Alright, where are your grandparents?" she asked.

"I can get them Mommy," Eliza said quickly before she rushed over to the family room.

"So what did you do if you didn't have to make anything?" Julia asked her mother as she started to stroke her hair.

"We just had one kiss," Castle answered before his wife could say anything in response.

Julia glanced at her father and said, "No," shaking her head.

"How do you do that?" Castle asked.

Shrugging Julia said, as her grandparents were rejoining them then, "You kissed when she went to talk to you before."

"She's good," Castle told his wife.

Shaking her head, smiling still, Beckett helped her husband get the food to the table while their parents were helping the girls to their chairs on either side of her and Castle as they usually sat. "I think you'll like this dinner sweetie," she told Eliza with a smile, kissing her temple.

"Yeah you too Mommy, you need to like it too," the little girl told her then.

"Don't worry I will," Beckett said, sitting to Julia's right and Castle's left while he sat with Eliza to his right.

"I'm wondering," Martha said after they had their food on their plate. "What are your plans?"

"Well we do have-" Beckett began.

"The class!" Julia exclaimed. She smiled when her mother sighed she then said, "Mommy, please try to like it."

"I will," Beckett said. "But luckily you have your grandparents to watch you tomorrow night." She then noticed that Julia was looking up at the ceiling and then said, "What?"

"I didn't tell you Mommy," Julia said, glancing then to her father. "But Ms. Grey is teaching the class."

"But I thought-" Beckett started to say looking at her husband.

"They changed it," Castle said slowly.

Watching her husband then eating a bite of dumpling Beckett said, "Rick," warningly.

Trying not to choke on his food Castle hurriedly finished eating and then said, "Okay David told me the teacher they were going to have objected to her teaching with him so he left and they just got Ms. Grey to teach."

"What's her real name?" Eliza said suddenly as Beckett turned to Julia.

"It's Jane," Julia said. "It's kinda sad 'cause there was a queen in England called that."

"Ooh, the one that wasn't supposed to be?" Eliza whispered.

"Yeah but it's a pretty name," Julia said quickly. "But Mommy I asked Ms. Grey and she said-"

"I could go watch the class." "You could go watch the class," the girl and then Beckett said at the same time.

Julia smiled and then said to her father, "She's good too."

"I knew that from the second I met her," Castle said. He glanced to his wife then and pretended to jump when he saw the way she was staring at him. There was no look and she wasn't glaring at him but as their eyes locked he realized what her look was for. Coughing a little he then said, "So… you're okay with that."

"I won't be teaching or anything," Julia said in a rush. "Just there to watch."

"You asked your daddy first if it was alright," Beckett stated instead of asking. She smiled and then said, "Alright I don't think I could really stop you from going and… I think I want you to go."

"Really?" Julia asked, beaming at her mother in her joy.

"Yes," Beckett replied, not surprised at her daughter's reaction. "I don't think I'd trust anyone else to act as a sous instructor."

Julia couldn't help laugh; as she knew the meaning of the word sous; and then told her mother seriously, "But I'm not an instructor."

"No but you can give us pointers," Castle replied. "And I think that's what your mother's thinking."

"And you too," Eliza said.

"It's hard to remember she can pay attention to the conversation now," Jim said, smiling across the table at his youngest granddaughter.

"The class is going to be a little late sweetheart-" Castle suddenly started to say.

"It's kay," Eliza told him with a smile though she was looking at both her parents. "I'm little still, huh?"

"Very," Beckett said, smiling at her.

"Your baby?" Eliza asked.

"Our youngest," Castle said, running his hand over her hair.

"Keep eating," Beckett said to them both.

"Now I'm wondering," Martha said, smiling as Eliza tried to get a lot of noodles with her chopsticks but had some trouble until her son helped her. "What are you doing?"

Castle looked at his wife and raised his eyebrows once before she shook her head which made him nod to her before he said in response, "We're looking into the idea for Julia's next book, a little research to help us write."

"Really?" Martha said.

"It helps," Beckett said. "Since this is going to be in Ireland this time around."

"Yeah, remember we did that last time," Julia said. "Mommy and Daddy looked at Scotland and then we wrote after."

"What is it that's being stolen this time?" Jim asked.

The family discussed the plot of the book before Martha then said while they were clearing the table, "But that won't take much time."

"No but we're planning our story a bit too," Beckett told them. She then smiled as Eliza came to her and she picked her up before saying, "We have our Prologue written I should say."

"That's not too much of a surprise," Martha said, holding the bottle of wine up to her daughter in law. "Really?" she said when Beckett shook her head.

"I've had enough," she replied with a smile.

"Richard?" Martha asked her son who was washing the dishes and wok.

"No I was going to make some coffee for us all," Castle said.

"Us too!" the girls said at the same time. They giggled and leaned against one another as the adults all looked at them together.

"No," Castle and Beckett said together, sharing a smile when their daughters laughed at that. "You're going to have some hot chocolate while you get…"

Beckett glanced to her husband when he coughed at the end of that but before she could say anything the girls had left, rushing out to the living room. "At least they're not running," she said to her husband before she left them to help the two with her Mother's Day gifts.

"Mommy you're not supposed to see them!" Eliza exclaimed when they saw their mother in the doorway of the room.

"I will soon but I get the feeling your gift to me is a little heavy," Beckett said. She smiled at their nearly twin expressions of surprise and then smiles before she then said, "Where is it?"

"Here," Julia said as she and her sister led their mother to the box.

"Oh," Beckett said when she saw it. "Your daddy didn't even try this year." She gasped when suddenly her husband's arms were around her waist and she said, "I stand by what I said you know," as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"I thought about it; and the girls concurred-" Castle started to say.

"That means we said okay too," Eliza told her mother.

"I'm glad to hear that," Beckett said with a smile as her husband moved to hold her with one arm.

"Using paper seemed a waste when you knew already what they'd be getting you," Castle said as they looked together at the light blue box.

"And where will I be putting that?" Beckett said, smiling again.

"You'll have to see it first," Julia said. "And then you'll know."

"Girls," Beckett said as Castle was picking up the box. "I'll love it," she reassured them as they'd shared a look and suddenly looked unsure. "Come on," she said as she held her hands out to them for them to go with her after Castle.

"We thought you'd changed your minds," Martha said with a smile as the four appeared in the doorway of the family room where she and Jim were waiting for them.

"We're here and I'm ready to open my gifts. And I think you are too?" Beckett asked her mother in law.

"Of course," Martha replied before she took the gift that her son handed her.

Taking off the bow on the Lladro box Beckett then opened the lid and smiled when she pulled out the statuette of two horses galloping side by side. "Girls," she told them. "This is perfect and I think I know why you chose it."

"It's you and Daddy!" Eliza cried out, leaning against her legs as Julia sat next to her on the couch.

"Even though the colors aren't like Alex and Julius," Julia told her with a smile. "Do you know where you'll put it?"

"Of course," Beckett said before looking at her husband.

"Yeah I think that's it love," Castle said with a nod. "The spot between where we sit is empty in our office; it's been driving me crazy but this will work well." He then turned his attention to his wife from their parents and said, "I didn't point this out to them, I gave them the site and Julia knew where to go."

"I would imagine she does," Jim said with a smile. "She's shown us before."

"And you Gram?" Julia asked. "Did you like your present?"

"I do," Martha said as it was a mirror with a Lladro frame of black. "It seems you have impeccable taste."

"That's from all of us," Julia said then. "We helped each other pick, even Grandpapa did."

"I helped them settle on a color," Jim said.

"Which I appreciate," Martha replied. "Thank you so much all of you."

"I agree, they're wonderful gifts," Beckett said.

"There's one more," Castle said, nodding to the gift to his wife from her father.

Taking the box Beckett opened it quickly and she picked up the photo album inside, opening it slowly as she knew what would be in it already.

Since he was sitting on the other side of his wife Castle took her hand as he saw the picture on the first page, of Beckett at least six or seven years old with her mother. They were both laughing and seeing the handmade bracelet on his mother in law's wrist that she was holding up to the camera he said, "Mother's Day?"

"I remember this one," Beckett said softly. "I guess you did too," she said, looking to her father.

With a slightly painful smile Jim then told her, "The rest of the pictures are random; just of you and your mother; but when I saw that one I remembered too."

"Can we hear that story?" Julia asked, knowing her sister wanted to know too.
"It's not a very long one, I was sitting with your grandmama while your grandpapa was cleaning up from dinner and I was talking to her about how important mothers were to kids," Beckett said, feeling tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She fought them and then continued her story saying, "And I told her that I knew I had the absolute best mother there could be for me. And that was because she was the best mother." There she paused and cupped her daughter's faces telling them seriously, "I wanted to be just like her."

"You are," Julia said quickly.

"Grandmama would say that too," Eliza said.

"And I know we didn't know Grandmama like you did," Julia said rapidly. "But we hear so much about her so we know that she was a good mommy."

"So that means we know that you are too," Eliza said, hugging her mother on the other side tightly as Julia was doing too.

"Thank you girls," Beckett said. "Would you like to look at this with me more?" She wasn't surprised when they nodded rapidly so with Castle's help she brought Eliza up onto her lap and then turned the page so they could see the next picture.

Watching his wife closely Castle was relieved when she seemed to calm down telling the stories behind the pictures to their daughters. After she had finished with it he took the book and set it on the coffee table before he said, "Love," very simply.

"I know," Beckett replied. "Girls, say goodnight to your grandparents we're going to give you a bath."

Though she wanted to protest Eliza saw her sister wasn't saying anything before sliding off the couch. So she let her mother set her down on the floor before she went with Julia to their grandmother. "Love you Gram," she told her with a smile.

"I love you too girls," Martha said, sharing kisses with her granddaughters. "Sweet dreams tonight, we'll see you in the morning."

"Love you Gram," Julia told her before she took her little sister's hand and they walked together to Jim, hugging him at the same time.

Smiling as the girls said, "We love you Grandpapa," at the same time, Beckett's father shared a kiss with them both before he told them, "I love you girls too, sleep tight."

As soon as their daughters were with them Castle and Beckett took them upstairs after saying goodnight to their parents. Going into Eliza's room they got the bath ready for the girls together and Castle kissed his wife's cheek before going out to get Eliza's pajamas for her since they hadn't brought them in with them.

"Why didn't you tell Gram and Grandpapa about your books?" Julia asked her mother once they were alone.

"Because I'm not sure there will be books," Beckett said. "Your daddy just wants me to try on my own."

"You've written lots with him," Julia said, washing herself after her mother had handed her her lathered washcloth. "Why don't you want to try by yourself?"

Smiling at her oldest Beckett then said, looking down at Eliza who she was washing then, "I would need a good idea, plus we're working on your book too."

"You don't write all the time Mommy," Eliza told her.

"Oh so you're paying attention," Beckett said to the little girl teasingly. She smiled when she giggled and she kissed her forehead before saying, "If an idea comes to me then I'll see if I might want to try and write it."

"Will you tell us?" Julia asked.

"Of course," Beckett said. "Since I would have to write that too." She rinsed Eliza off and then said, "We need to get you two out early today."

"Can I ask you a question first?" Julia said quickly.

"Go ahead," Beckett told her, wondering what it was.

"How come you still like horses so much? Grandmama was half McCollough right?" Julia said.

"That always comes out," Beckett replied simply. "And if you're thinking about your grandpapa… he is Irish."

"His family likes horsies?" Eliza asked.

"They did," Beckett replied. "So that's why. And you two are as horse crazy as you are because your daddy and I are about the same when it comes to loving horses."
"About being the key word," Castle said in the doorway. He smiled at his wife and told her, "Couldn't help hearing."

"The door wasn't closed so of course not," Beckett said. She looked at the girls who were watching them and said, "I'll tell you something your grandmama told me. When I was getting older and becoming a woman I asked her what it was about your grandpapa that made her know he was the one."

"What did she say?" Eliza whispered eagerly.

"That he didn't run from horses," Beckett said. "And that's another story which we'll tell you once we get you out and dressed. Rick?"

"I've got her love," Castle said.

Together Castle and Beckett got their daughters ready for bed before they were heading out to the bed where Eliza sat up against her pillow while her sister was on her knees next to her.

"Their third date," Beckett began as the girls were looking at her expectantly which made her smile. "She took him to the stables where she'd ride once in a while. He was a little uneasy but I remember him telling me later that he was awed by Mom's enthusiasm. And he loved that about her so though he wouldn't ride he joined her at the stables just to watch her."

"He really never rode?" Castle asked his wife.

"I think a few times they'd go for a walk like today but not for very long; he rode later," Beckett replied. She then smiled at the girls and said, "When she was telling me that story; when she finished; she said I was even more horse crazy than she was and I'd need to find someone who was going to be just a little less or as in love with horses as I am."

"Daddy!" Eliza exclaimed.

"That I didn't know about him until after we had started to date," Beckett said with a smile. "But your grandmama was right and you know that wasn't the only thing she loved about him."
"I have to go to bed?" Eliza sighed as her mother was getting up after she and her sister nodded.

"It's late for you and you have school," Castle said as he and Beckett watched their daughters hugging each other tightly. "But you had a nice day I think."

"And Mommy," Eliza said, turning to her father as he then sat down next to her. She threw her arms around him before he could say anything to that and hugged him tightly saying, "I love you Daddy."

"I love you too sweetie," Castle said. "And you Julia."

Wrinkling her nose, as she knew that meant she'd have to go to bed herself as soon as they were in her room, Julia hugged him and said, "I love you too Daddy."

Sharing kisses with them both Castle then got up and moved for Beckett, watching her sit and take both girls into her arms.

"This was a perfect day," Beckett told them as she knew they'd ask. "And my gift was perfect and you two are the best daughters a mother could ask for." When both girls opened their mouths to speak she quickly said, "And yes that does include Alexis." "I love you Julia, Eliza and I won't stop loving being your mother either."

"Every day?" Julia asked as she and her sister pulled back to look at their mother.

"Every single day," Beckett said seriously. She kissed them both and hugged them again, feeling them cuddling close to her.

"I love you Mommy," Eliza said first. "Lots and lots… lots," she added as she nodded her head while her mother looked at her.

Waiting for Beckett to stop laughing Julia then said, "I love you too Mommy, a lot like she was saying."

Beckett kissed her daughters one more time before she waited for Julia to get off the bed and then stood up herself. She tucked in Eliza, not surprised when she yawned as both she and Castle kissed her forehead. "We were late today," she said to Julia as they stepped out into the hall after saying goodnight to Rita on the end of the little girl's bed.

"I thought so," Julia said with a nod. She then smiled and said, "But that was fun… hearing stories about Grandmama and Grandpapa; and you too Mommy."

"Oh no I enjoyed it too," Castle said as they went into the girl's room then and she glanced at him. "You know I'll hear all the stories I can about your mom."

"Will you let us see you put your Lladro in your office?" Julia asked as she climbed onto her bed.

Watching as Julia went to Macca on the end of the bed Beckett replied, "Oh of course, tomorrow if there's time. If not then later before we need to go to the class."

"I'm excited Mommy," Julia said a little guiltily.

"I know," Beckett said, watching her husband help their oldest under the cover. After Castle had kissed her forehead she followed suit and then tucked Julia in saying, "Sweet dreams sweetie."

"Thanks Mommy, you too," she replied, smiling. Julia then watched her parents go over to the door and after the light was turned off she closed her eyes, turning on her side before murmuring a goodnight to Macca.

Outside in the hall at the top of the stairs Castle was kissing the tips of his wife's fingers before he murmured, "I'll be right back love."
"I know," Beckett said; somehow guessing what he wanted to do with her that night. "I'll be ready." With a brief kiss they soon parted and she went to their room while he went downstairs knowing he was also eager for what they might do once they were back together again.


Pouring the tea out into the two small cups Castle said to his wife, "What else did your mother tell you besides the fact that I should love horses too?"

"Oh you picked up on that?" Beckett said in amusement as she took her cup from him. They were sitting in the middle of their bed, clad in their kimonos and facing each other the energy between them already high though they'd done little but kiss each other in greeting meeting back in the bedroom.

"Hard not to," Castle said. "Though I would guess she was joking?"

"Partially joking and the other half of it is that's what the McCollough women did," Beckett replied before she took a sip of tea. "She told me I'd likely marry an Irishman; not necessarily full Irish but at least partly."

"You're right, they did that," Castle said since her Houghton grandfather had a little Irish in his family. "What about the girls?"

"Likely they'll do the same but I don't want to tell them that," Beckett replied. "And really I never kept Mom's words in mind when she told me that… also I didn't really care what nationality my boyfriend was. She only knew Dad was Irish because of his last name."

"I get the feeling Julia will," Castle said.

"Me too," Beckett replied. She then said, "Do you have an idea what you might like to put on me this time?" to change the subject to them since she was naked under the robe.

"I don't know," Castle said slowly as he looked at his brushes and ink jar. "I'll wait to see. You're warm?" he asked then as she was handing him her cup.

"Very," Beckett said, waiting slightly impatiently for her husband to set the cup aside. When he turned to her she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him deeply, not surprised when he responded immediately and nearly hauled her onto his lap at the same time he sat so his legs were stretched out in front of him. Their tongues were nearly instantly dueling with one another and she could feel the way his hands were trying to feel her body underneath the kimono, making her shiver before she carefully broke things off. "What do you want?" she asked him slightly teasingly, her heart pounding waiting for his answer.

"Not tonight," Castle said, shaking his head. "I want to make this about you Kate."

Though he was serious Beckett said, "You don't need to."

"But I want to," Castle said, staring into her eyes. He couldn't stop himself and was kissing her, holding her close until he could feel her breasts through the fabric. Shuddering he did his best to keep that up until finally she was pulling away again and he kissed at her neck quickly.

"Here," Beckett suddenly told him as he pressed his face against her. When he immediately pulled away she couldn't help smiling slightly while she was opening her robe. She loved the way he watched her with so much anticipation and even awe while staring at her body as it was bared to him. "Anything yet?" she asked him. When he shook his head she was startled but pushed that aside as she then reached out to him, parting the upper part of his kimono to allow her hands to rub over his bare chest. He then caught her lips and they proceeded to kiss hungrily again while her breasts brushed against his skin. "Oh god… are you going to pleasure me?" she asked him when he reached up and cupped at both mounds reverently.

"Would you want me to?" Castle asked her seriously. He wasn't surprised when she nodded and he said, "I'll do my best," still speaking in a more somber tone.

"I trust you," Beckett told him before he laid her down in the middle of the bed. She was nearly breathless with the way he pulled her kimono apart further so he could see her body, his gaze adoring as it searched her form. She kissed him when he leaned down to do so to her and stroked the back of his head and neck repeatedly until they parted and she murmured his name. He brushed a whisper of a kiss on her neck before she watched him grab a brush and was startled when he then paused, looking uncertain. "You don't want to?" she asked.

"I was going to do a design but… I can't," Castle said. He was taken aback then when his wife sat up and he watched her reach for the largest brush in the set, shuddering as that one they just used for pleasuring. "Sure?" he asked her. He wasn't surprised when she simply kissed him and he rushed to help her lay down before they were kissing deeper.

When they parted Castle took a moment to study his wife before he then reached with the brush, running it over her neck and smiling as she shivered in reaction. "You're so amazing you know," he told her as he ran the brush down to her breasts.

"I only react like this with you," Beckett said, speaking around her moan as she was affected almost instantly by the brush as it moved around the sides of her right breast. "I only ever have with you."

"I know," Castle said as he worked his way around to her nipple. "I'm the same," he said. When he saw that she was looking at him questioningly he explained, "The basic pleasure, fine, any woman can get that to happen. But feeling as if our souls are coming together, that hasn't happened to me until you."

Gasping as her husband moved the brush over her other breast Beckett said, "You don't mind leaving yourself vulnerable to me?"

"I can't," Castle replied instantly. "Since I know you'll take care of me, same as I do for you."

Beckett smiled but it was only briefly as her husband was soon leaning down to kiss her. It was very gentle and tender and she was moaning as he had at some point discarded the brush, his hand instead running down her abdomen. "Wait," she told him, moving away so they could remove their kimonos. "I want your lips," she told him once they were naked, touching his lower one with her thumb.

Castle gave her a final kiss before he then moved to do as she asked, brushing his lips down her skin. He loved the way she trembled underneath him and he moved side to side that time instead of straight down. But finally he moved down until he was at her clit and he moved away to look up at her before asking, "Ready?"

Nodding Beckett braced herself for her husband lowering his head, keeping her eyes on him before he then proceeded to lick at her clit. She cried out softly as he stared at her still and the sight of him doing that along with his tongue rolling around the nub affected her greatly. Arching her back her right leg suddenly bent at the knee and she felt Castle grabbing for it. After he had placed her legs over his shoulders as she'd been hoping he'd do she reached down and tenderly cupped the back of his head, gently scratching at his scalp as the pleasure rushed up through her body. She had a feeling it was also moving down to her feet as she was literally curling her toes but the thought didn't last long since he was moving then, down.

Slipping his tongue within his wife Castle wasn't surprised when she cried out his name and he worked doubly to lick at her and rub at her clit that he had his fingers on at that point. He began to pleasure her in a rhythm as soon as he'd achieved what he wanted and with the way she was moving below him he knew he was going to be getting her off soon. He worked harder and faster until she seemed to freeze and then arched her back; which he could tell though he couldn't see.

"Please… Rick… oh god don't stop… please!" Beckett was crying out in the midst of her orgasm, moving her legs. She faintly hoped that she wasn't strangling her husband but soon she was calming and she breathed heavily in her ecstasy, throbbing still. "Love," she breathed as she reached down for him to come up to her.

Castle moved quickly at her touch and then kissed her deeply before he moved away and kissed at her upper chest. "You still look amazing," he told her seriously.

Beckett smiled and then said, "I'll have to take your word for that, I feel… spent."

Raising his head so he could look down at her Castle asked, "Sated?"

"For the moment," Beckett said, amused at his hopeful expression. "Can I say what I want next?"

"Of course, I wasn't kidding about that," Castle said, cupping her left breast with his hand.

Before she could tell him Beckett had to bite at her lower lip as he gently rubbed at her skin, getting her nipple as well since it was so taut. But finally she could speak and she said, "Let me pleasure you for a little-"

"A little?" Castle said, his voice strangled. "Kate I'm going to-" He was startled when his wife got up then and kissed him hard on the lips and he sank into it before he slowly pulled away. "But you-" he started to say.

"I'll take care of you, remember you said I would do that for you," Beckett told him. She then leaned over and brushed her lips against his before pulling away and saying, "Lay down."

"Mind if I stay up?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised when his wife simply smiled at him before she lowered her head. He held onto it as she then proceeded to take his erection into her mouth. He realized; for some reason; that she hadn't told him what was after her pleasuring of him but decided that there was enough time to learn that later. So he turned his attention to his wife and what she was doing to him, groaning hard as she didn't stop bobbing her head up and down. He wasn't able to last long but he didn't mind that as she seemed to be happy while she sped up around him. He wasn't sure if he was collapsing to the bed or laying down, all he knew was that he hit the bed under him and was panting in his pleasure as his wife lay atop him. He felt a little stunned from how much pleasure he was feeling but was suddenly more so when he realized that Beckett was rubbing against him repeatedly. "Love…" he gasped out.

"I told you I'd take care of you," Beckett said simply in response, kissing his jaw and cheeks before she got to his lips. As he hadn't lost his arousal she was soon straddling him, rubbing her clit against it and gasping and soon crying out as she moved away from him. "Tell me when… when we can fuck," she gasped, too aroused to care at how she sounded. But a second later her husband was clutching at the small of her back and she knew that had affected him. She was pleased with that but soon had to deal with the fact that her arousal was rising rapidly and essentially pleasuring herself against him was not enough.

Castle could feel in the way his wife was moving that she was becoming frustrated and he grabbed her, flipping her onto her back before he kissed her passionately as she wrapped her arms and then legs around him. He moved back after they'd been kissing for some time and asked her, "What do you want me to do?"

"You know what I want," Beckett breathed before he slipped inside of her. She cried out heavily when he then thrust into her and then watched him as he placed her right ankle on his shoulder before she wrapped her left around his waist. A second later he made his first thrust and she nearly screamed his name as he was deep and rough. She dug her nails into the bed below her as the pleasure was swift and hot, racing through every inch of her it could find. She was moving with him very soon after he began and when they had found their rhythm together she was reaching up to his shoulders though she could only touch one. She managed to grab his arm and holding him to her she gasped and moaned before whispering his name repeatedly until finally he was moving her leg down.

Castle breathed out an apology to his wife but when she then kissed him he knew she hadn't minded the move and he responded to her as they regained their pace when he then began to change the angle of his hips. He then recalled what she had said to him before he'd coupled with her and he told her, "Put your hands next to your head." He was slightly surprised when she instantly did what he said and he tried to move even harder and faster against her. Breathing harder he said, "If you want to stop-"

"No! No I want… more," Beckett breathed out to him as she was clutching at the pillow under her head while they were moving together a little faster. She felt him moving down to her and she gasped as he was slamming into her hips, the friction between them continuing to affect her. She was writhing around underneath him already, unsure how long she really would be able to last when her husband carefully pulled away from her lips and then stopped moving. "I hate you can read me that well," she breathed out.

"I love that I can," Castle said. With them stopped he then moved down to her breasts and proceeded to suckle at the left first hungrily. He rubbed his tongue back and forth it a few times before carefully moving back and blowing on the damp skin. Loving the way she gasped at that he leaned down to kiss both before he slowly pulled away from her again. He proceeded to thrust within her, gently and carefully, watching her for every second of her reaction so he wouldn't miss a second of it. He was rewarded with his wife's pleasure plastered across her face and the way she undulated against him, her body pressing against him repeatedly. "Kate…" he murmured to get her attention. Very soon he was kissing her, tasting her lips and suddenly moving harder than he had before.

Beckett could feel her husband's joy in their lovemaking in the way his lips broke off from hers and then moved over to her neck. She drew him down to her breasts and stroked at the back of his head as he took them again, hungry for her she could feel; not just his mouth but in the way he moved against her. She whispered then to him, when the kiss had stopped, telling him, "You said this was about me but… Hmm, Rick I can feel how much you're enjoying me… feeling me. Aren't you?"

"Yes, you're so beautiful… your body is perfect… you're perfect," Castle told her seriously, slowing down again. "I have… what I never had before… a lover, a… a goddess… my love…" And there he kissed her deeply, as passionately as he possibly could before his wife was stopping and he was so surprised that he paused himself. "You… too much," he said.

"A little bit," Beckett replied with a smile. She brushed her lips against him and then fell into yet another kiss. When they finally stopped she whispered something to him and nearly cried out when he moved around so he was sitting up and she was straddling him. They stared at one another intently and continued to do that for what felt like some time. But finally they were together, kissing and grasping onto each other wildly. When they pulled away from one another she leaned against him and was pleased when he held her tightly, stroking her hair and back which made her shiver.

"Will you do something for me love?" Castle asked her then.

"Before I do," Beckett said as she was shaking her head at the same time. "Here…" she told him, drawing him then down to her chest again. She laughed as he called out a relieved, "Thank you," knowing he'd wanted her to do that in response. She kissed the top of his head before he began to suckle her right breast and she then stroked at his hair. She began to move then and told him, gasping every so often, "I know what you want already… you… we're so close Rick. Will you finish… finish us off so we can come together?"

"Yes," Castle said very simply before he was kissing her. "Move a little more on my cock love, your pussy is… amazing."

"Pervert," Beckett murmured before they then kissed again. They had to keep those kisses rapid as they needed to breathe and they were moving together. She felt pleasure building up in her continuously and as it didn't stop she had to do that herself. "Fuck me… please," she begged him when he looked at her, seeming to be stunned.

Castle, while he was kissing his wife deeply, flipped her onto her back before he thrust against her, groaning against her lips as she cried out into his mouth. They stayed together for as long as they could until they needed to breathe desperately and were gasping for air. He took that time to focus on making them both climax, wanting to make her scream his name in her pleasure. He wasn't sure how much longer he had so he took advantage of the time that he did until finally she was breaking. He gasped for a second at the feel of her sex taking him further in her, drawing him to follow her as she did as he'd hoped and screamed his name. He couldn't resist her for very long and was orgasming as well, giving her everything that he had as he chanted her name until she was limp below him. It took him a little longer to follow but finally he was and he was stopping very abruptly, breathing roughly though a smile soon spread across his face.

"Don't get cocky," Beckett sighed as she noticed that smile. She ran her hands down the back of his head and then to his shoulders sighing and saying, "I can never get enough."

"Oh I agree," Castle said quickly as he knew why she had said that. "We're very insatiable. But just with each other." He then leaned in and kissed her hard but briefly before he was moving away so he could look in her eyes. He grinned slightly and said, "You want to keep going?"

"What time is it?" Beckett asked. She watched him reach to the nightstand, turning her alarm clock on her nightstand to them. She gave a mock suffering sigh then and said, "I guess we can do that."

"Can I move?" Castle asked then.

"Yes but you know I was just kidding," Beckett said, slightly concerned.

"I know," Castle replied simply before he carefully pulled away from her and then lay next to her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Rick," Beckett said warningly.

"What?" Castle asked, startled at her tone as he had no idea what had warranted that. He looked on as she then moved his left hand that was on her ribs under her breast up to it and he smiled, kissing her hard. "You know I love when I can touch you," he told her. He was startled when she suddenly started to laugh and said, "What is it?"

"I thought you were just going to stop at the word touch," Beckett said, smiling up at him. "I'm glad I was wrong."

"You know you're important to me," Castle told her. He then moved his hand to her side and slowly slid it down until finally he was at her waist. He breathed out deeply and said, "Remember what I said about you being a goddess?"

Beckett kissed him gently then and murmured, "You're an amazing man yourself Rick."

Cuddling her close against his side Castle said, "I'm really glad I play still."

Running her hand down his chest Beckett told him, "So am I."

"And the dance class; that's really good exercise," Castle said. He smiled when his wife softly laughed at him and then told her, "I love hearing that."

"I think you love everything about me," Beckett said, turning to lie on her stomach as he responded by lying on his side next to her. She bit her lower lip as he ran his fingers carefully thought her hair and said, "Did you ever dream of us like this? Just like this, not making love just… together."

"Everything that had to do with you I was dreaming about," Castle told her seriously, pressing his lips against her temple lovingly. "I dreamt about us making love, falling asleep in each other's arms… with a family."

"So no regrets choosing me as the mother of your children?" Beckett asked him then, pleased with his answer to her previous question.

"I couldn't," Castle said. "Because I was lucky you wanted me to be Julia's father. And love they're our children. But that's another reason why I love you… all those facets… let me learn each one."

Her heart pounding hard then at the way his voice became so earnest at the end Beckett leaned her head towards his before she smiled and then said, "I feel the same about you. Luckily we have a lifetime for that. But you know what I really want to know?" She smiled again when he shook his head no and then told him, "How you would react if I took you in my hand."

"Oh, me too," Castle said as he flipped onto his back. But before she could do that he was gathering Beckett into his arms and he proceeded to kiss her as hard as he could. They were involved with one another for some time as that kiss splintered into multiple ones before they finally, slowly parted. "I love you Kate," he said huskily as he was stroking her hair again.

"Hmm, I love you Rick," Beckett replied before she kissed him yet again. They parted and she said, "What if we just… made love?"

"You read my mind," Castle said before he grabbed her hips as she was climbing onto him, straddling him. He grunted as they joined together but soon sighed in pleasure and with Beckett; laughing and leaving him breathless with how beautiful she looked; pulling him up to her he was moving against her and they kissed deeply. He held her tight and felt her doing the same to him, making them cling as they made love roughly, desperately. He was filled with the same joy he knew she was and they were calling to one another as they continued their night involved so fully and gladly with each other.